Intel updates the DX79SI with the DX79SR

If you remember, when Intel initially revealed the X79 chipset it was said to feature additional SAS ports which over time were meant to be additional SATA ports, but in the end the chipset arrived with no extra storage interfaces at all. Even though Intel was expected to remedy this with a later chipset revision, this doesn't appear to be the case anymore, but Intel has decided to issue a revised version of its DX79SI motherboard with additional connectivity in a couple of areas.

If you remember, when Intel initially revealed the X79 chipset it was said to feature additional SAS ports which over time were meant to be additional SATA ports, but in the end the chipset arrived with no extra storage interfaces at all. Even though Intel was expected to remedy this with a later chipset revision, this doesn't appear to be the case anymore, but Intel has decided to issue a revised version of its DX79SI motherboard with additional connectivity in a couple of areas.

Early pictures of the DX79SI from last year showed the board with a total of 10 SATA ports, but in the end the board only arrived with six, to many potential buys disappointment. The DX79SR has at least in part remedied this by sporting an extra Marvell SE9128 SATA controller which adds two more SATA 6Gbps ports.

The rear I/O has also been changed slightly with the addition of two more USB 3.0 ports courtesy of a four port host controller, although we're not sure who the manufacturer is. Again, this was a feature missing on the DX79SI which it had space for. Intel has also done some minor changes to the PCB layout, there are no longer any lane switches between the first and second PCI Express x16 slots and many of the capacitors appear to have been changed.

The DX79SR will ship with an internal Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 2.1 module that attaches to one of the USB 2.0 headers. Sadly it's limited to 150Mbps Wi-Fi and if you have a chassis with no plastic parts or large enough holes to the outside world so to speak, it'll be hard to get any kind of signal with this module. Intel also includes a mouse pad and a thermal probe with the board. The DX79SR is set to replace the DX79SI entirely and it should end up costing around US$300 (S$375) at launch which should be later this month.

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